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In 2009, Americans generated 30 million tons of plastic waste -- over 12 percent of their total garbage (see References 1, page 6). A mere 7 percent of U.S. plastic waste was recycled (see References 1, page 7). Numbers like these emphasize the importance of using less plastic -- and recycling more of the plastic that consumers use, as well. Recycling plastic cuts down on the amount of waste Americans produce and has many other environmental benefits.

Reduced Oil Consumption

Manufacturers make plastics from crude oil derivatives or natural gas, so making more plastic consumes an increasing amount of nonrenewable fossil fuel. The amount of oil needed to produce a plastic bottle is enough to fill a quarter of the bottle (see References 2). On average, according to the Stanford University recycling center, 1 ton of recycled plastic saves 16.3 barrels of oil. Recycling plastic cuts back on oil consumption, thereby helping to extend the lifespan of our remaining fossil fuel reserves.

Saving Energy

To produce plastic, manufacturers must chemically alter crude oil derivatives. One common technique is radical polymerization, which typically involves compressing the reactants to about a thousand times atmospheric pressure and heating them to 100 degrees Celsius or above (see References 5). This kind of technique consumes a considerable amount of energy. Recycling plastic still uses energy, because the plastic must be shredded, cleaned, melted and remolded, but it usually requires less energy than making fresh plastic. According to the Stanford University Recycling Center, recycling 1 ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 5,774 kilowatt-hours of electric energy.

Reducing Waste

Plastics are durable; their toughness and inertness are what make them so useful. Unfortunately, they're so durable that they break down very slowly in a landfill (see References 2). When plastics find their way into the environment -- into the ocean, for example -- they can break down more quickly, but they still take a long time to biodegrade; a plastic bottle may take a century to break down, for example, while a plastic beverage holder could take four centuries (see References 6).

Types and Uses

Only two types of plastic, polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene, are recycled at most locations (see References 4). These two types are distinguished by the resin codes, which are usually printed on the plastic itself or the packaging, and are denoted by a number surrounded by the recycling symbol. PET is resin code 1; HDPE is resin code 2 (see References 4). Recycled PET and HDPE can be used to make new bottles, polyester fibers for use in clothing, car parts and plastic lumber, among other products (see References 4).

About the Author

Based in San Diego, John Brennan has been writing about science and the environment since 2006. His articles have appeared in "Plenty," "San Diego Reader," "Santa Barbara Independent" and "East Bay Monthly." Brennan holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, San Diego.